ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: net · lash · patient · rest · pass · fan · trunk · bowl

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. net — in sport
  4. net — after costs
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. net — for catching
  17. rest — a break
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. pass — a permit
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. rest — what's left
  24. lash — an eyelash

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com